Lewis Chitengwa jnr memorial tournament penciled for the 27th of April at Wingate Golf Club will be a must to watch for all , as top golfers will take part in the perennial event few days after the 2018 Zimbabwe Open scheduled for 19 to 22 April at Royal Golf Club.
By Tendai Chisiri
This year’s Zimbabwe Open Golf has been sponsored for R2 million rands and golfers world wide are allowed to participate.The golf tournament is on the Sunshine Tour whilst it was first played in 1984.
Lewis Muridzo Chitengwa snr and Eike Mc Intosh has confirmed that the preparations for the Lewis Chitengwa memorial tournament has gathered momentum with more than 62 players registered so far for the event.”Among the experienced golfers would be Terry Cairns, Ryan Cairns, Tongoona “TC” Charamba, Simon Murungweni and Lewis Muridzo Chitengwa to mention but a few”, revealed Mc Intosh who is organizing the memorial tournament with Chitengwa snr.
After the induction of Lewis Chitengwa in the Southern African Golf Hall of Fame 3 years ago, it is by popular demand that the tourney is being organised annually in Zimbabwe read a circular by the organizing team.Through the induction, he joined the ranks of Southern African golfing greats as Bobby Lock, Gary Player, Nick Price, Ernie Els and others.
Lewis Muridzo Chitengwa snr, Golf and Teaching Professional at Wingate Park Golf Club wishes this year’s tournament in memory of his son to be in aid of 3 charities .All proceeds go to Tichakunda Orphanage Hatcliff, Chinyaradzo Children’s Home High field and and Borradaile Trust, Old people’s home , Marondera added the circular.
Lewis Chtengwa jnr , a great young Zimbabwean golfer who came out of Wingate Park Golf Club sadly died whilst playing on the Canadian Tour in 2001.Other prominent golfers who came out of the Wingate Park Golf Club are Brendon de Jonge playing at the PGA Tour , Nyasha Mauchaza playing on the Canadian and PGA Tour, Chenai Mushiri, Benjamin Follet- Smith, Ray Badenhorst, Tapiwa and Tatenda Mibakacheche, Mark Cayeux who plays on the Sunshine Tour and is Zimbabwe ‘s hope on the Zimbabwe Open this year .
Late Lewis Chitengwa jnr had many great national and international wins to his credit to name but a few.
1992… Gary Player Orange Bowl World Junior Championship( 3 shots victory over Tiger Woods)
1992,93,94…Zimbabwe Men’s Amateur Champion, 1993…USA Eastern Amateur Tournament- top 10
1995…Top Inter Collegiate player
1996…USA Furman Inter collegiate’
1996…WCAA Long Driving Contest beat Tiger Woods
1997…USA Seminole Classic
2001 Canadian Tour- six top finishes in a row (then passed away).
He passed away in July 2001 after a rare form of meningitis aged 26 after he became ill at the tournament ‘s second round of the Canadian Tour’s Edmonton Open.
“Golf is improving in Zimbabwe as the Zimbabwe Open is still being played which attracts big players in the golf arena” said Chitengwa senior in an interview. .Due to economic instability in Zimbabwe the tournament lost sponsors and was cancelled prior to the 2002 event. There were many attempts to resurrect the tournament, but none were successful until 2010.
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